Kaiser Panorama City: Aria's Birth Story

Becca April 3, 2013

Taking a step back from my usual field, I ventured into the amazing realm of Birth Photography. This is the second time I've had the unique opportunity to capture a new life coming into the world and, once again, it's changed me! I remember thinking about the first time I heard about birth photography and I was unsure how I would feel about having a photographer capturing "that moment", personally. I thought that it would be too invasive or annoying during such a stressful, vulnerable time.. but I was so wrong. I love this. Not only is this life changing moment documented in a stunning way, but the family is off the hook. Dad can actually be involved in the delivery and any Grandmas that are fortunate enough to be around don't have to worry about taking pictures. Blaze & Cari have been good friends of mine since I started dating my husband over 7 years ago. We were fortunate enough to attend each other's weddings and continue to make time for dinner together even though we're all so busy! So when Cari told me she was pregnant, we decided to document her pregnancy on a weekly basis. Starting from Week 6, I saw her almost every week to photograph her growing belly! I'll share these images soon, I promise.

I'm so happy that Cari decided to have me document Aria's Birth Story. I arrived at Kaiser in Panorama City at about 7am on March 29, 2013 and Aria made her grand entrance at 12:34pm the same day! She was so calm and hardly cried. She just looked around at everyone and took it all in.. hopefully this is a preview of the next few months ahead for my sweet friends! I was so honored to watch them become parents and I'm really excited to share the images with you all today:

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

New Look, New Logo, New Website! Happy 2013!

Becca March 8, 2013

Whaaaat?! Big changes around here starting with a whole new look! After a few years of figuring out who I was as a photographer, I took on the challenge of changing my branding to match my style. My previous logo was more structured and bold, but my photos are much softer and more romantic. I wasn't sure exactly what to do or where to go but after seeing my friend Emilee's new website I was sold on her design team. I contacted Lindsay and told her I wanted to hire her, but it turned out that she was about to launch her brand new company (with her friend, Sarah) and wasn't taking any new design projects until January 1st! Not gonna lie, at midnight on New Year's Eve I wasn't kissing my husband, I was filling out their contact form. So after months of redesigning, rebranding, revisions, and re-lots of late nights and caffeine, I'm so excited to show off my new look!

Big thank you to the gals at Hello Monday Creative for working with my crazy antics and perfectionism on steroids. I'm sure they're glad to have me off of their hands for the time being, especially Sarah who worked with me extensively on my new logo.. I'm not sure how many revisions we went through but I can't thank you enough!

So take a look around and let me know what you think! I'm really excited that my website and blog are now in the same place so I'll be able to keep them both updated regularly. Here are some upcoming features that I can't wait to blog about:

Collage

xoxo Becca

2012 in Review

Becca December 18, 2012

Soooo... my year was awesome. What about yours? It's no secret that I've been horrible about blogging this year. I was busier than I anticipated (which was great!) and my hubby and I moved into a big house (also, great!)! So I was thrown off my game a little bit.. but 2013 will be much better in the blogging department. I think I say that every year, but it's really true this time. Anyway, let's take a moment to look back on my amaaaaazing weddings this year. All 22 of them! (22! Can you believe it!? Wow.)

Ryan & Nicole Cornerstone Church | Simi Valley, CA | February Their romance began over an episode of American Idol. True story! These two are so sweet and their wedding was full of amazing personal details.

Josh & Jennifer Beverly Hills Country Club | Los Angeles, CA | February This wedding was glamor and glitz all the way. Jennifer looked like an absolute dream!

Aaron & Lily Grace Baptist Church | Santa Clarita, CA | March I was so excited to be able to photograph these two! I've known Lily for a few years and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of this lovely wedding.

Josh & Amber TPC | Valencia, CA | March Funny story, I met Josh (a fellow photographer) at an event and we started talking about his upcoming wedding. He wasn't engaged quite yet but they were talking about it and starting to work out the details.. after chatting for a while his fiancé walked up and joined our conversation.. Amber! Turns out his fiancé and I went to the same church group back in the day. Like, *jr. high* back in the day! Small world!!

Scott & Sarah Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church | Beverly Hills, CA | April Sweet and graceful. That's how I would describe this wedding! Sarah put so much into the details of their wedding but it all seemed so wonderful and effortless. Adorable!

Mike & Jennifer Private Residence | Santa Clarita, CA | June The cops came because the party was rockin' just a little too hard. But they left pretty quick and we kept on dancing at full blast because they were Jenny's coworkers! Heck yes, that gorgeous, badass bride is a cop!

Dan & Mouy Eden Gardens | Moorpark, CA | June This was the first wedding that Eden Gardens ever had! Mouy snatched up this amazing venue and rocked it with her gorgeous flowers and sassy attitude.

Dave & Alexandria First Presbyterian Church | Visalia, CA | June I love this couple! Especially Alex! She's my best friend's older sister and so we're practically family. Although I didn't include it here, her wedding was all peacock and gold.. stunning!

Taylor & Courtney Villa Del Sol | Fullarton, CA | July This wedding was my pinterest board come to life! Birch branches, carved signs, blue bridesmaid dresses...ahhh I was in heaven!

Brandon & Brianna Valencia Country Club | Valencia, CA | July Brianna! I have known this girl for a few years now. She was a client of mine when I was a hairstylist back in the day and as I slowly transitioned into photography she kept noticing my photos around my office! These two are so fun and I'm blessed to call them friends!

Dennis & Melissa Portofino Yacht Club | Redondo Beach, CA | July I met this great couple through one of my favorite wedding planners, Marisa (wait for it, you'll see her a little later in this post). I loved the calm, laid back attitude these two brought to their big day!

Jared & Megan Maravilla Gardens | Moorpark, CA | August Megan and I connected online! She lived out of state so most of our conversations were through email. She signed her contract and mailed it to me before we saw each other and by the time we actually met face to face,I already loved her. My brides are the best. Ever.

Cody & Callie Sunset Beach | Hawaii | August Callie is my husband's cousin! She decided to get hitched in Hawaii but unfortunately my husband couldn't take the time off of work. So I spent the week with his family in a beach house in Maui... poor guy. But we had so much fun!!!

Gabriel & Jessica Descanso Beach Club | Avalon, CA | August These two know how to party! We had a great time getting to know each other during our engagement session and their wedding was a giant celebration on the beach. Literally! We were in the sand the whole time. I love Catalina Island!!

Tim & Marisa Walnut Grove | Moorpark, CA | August Remember Marisa from a few weddings up? Yup. This is her! Not only is she a gorgeous bride, but she's also an amazing wedding planner. We've done tons of projects together and I love that we're friends. Her hubby is the nicest guy and they are going to do big things together!

Matt & Sandra The Roosevelt Hotel | Hollywood, CA | September These two were my fun, edgy couple of the year.. which is why I made their strip black and white! Everything was epic.. from the cupcakes (Sandra owns her own bakery!) all the way to the leopard print shoes that the bridesmaids were wearing!

Steve & Ashley Spanish Hills Country Club | Camarillo, CA | September Love love love. What can I say about Ashley and Steve? They are adorable together and everything about their wedding was full of joy and magic.. even a little Disney! xoxo

Eric & Shauna Private Residence | Newhall, CA | October Goofy and Sophisticated. I'm not sure if that's the best way to describe the wedding or the couple.. maybe both! Either way, this fantastic pair celebrated their wedding in a restored old red barn and escaped in an old restored car.

Warren & Leslie First Church of the Nazarene | Pasadena, CA | October Details, details, details. Oh, did I mention details? Warren wore Leslie's initials instead of a boutonniere and the entire wedding was full of handmade paper and felt flowers. Absolutely amazing!

Zach & Olya The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints | San Diego, CA | November This is my husband's other cousin, Zach! He was able to go to this wedding haha Olya is a Russian tennis player living in Utah and Zach is a white boy who speaks Russian! These two are so cute together. I have the best family!

Andrew & Alexandra L'Ermitage Hotel | Beverly Hills, CA | November This wedding was glamorous, simple, lush , and chic all at the same time. The colors of everything were perfect and the ceremony was so personal and sweet. Not to mention her gorgeous hair.. I'm in love with it!

Justin & Penelope Alta Dena Town and Country Club | Altadena, CA | December These two got married in the rain! ..and yet Penny's hair still remained flawless. Surrounded by so many friends and tons of family, they danced and drank and partied the night away! Best way to wrap up 2012.

All in all, this year couldn't have gone better! You guys are all amazing and I'm so thankful that you all touched my lives in such a special way. Here's to a wonderful New Year!!!

Spanish Hills Country Club Wedding: Ashley + Steve

Becca October 4, 2012

What can I say about these two? ...I simply adore them. I met Ashley about 20 years ago when we were both dancing at the same dance studio! I actually danced with her sister, Chelsea. But I always wanted to be a ballerina just like Ashley. I never made it... but she did! She is a beautiful, ballerina-dancing, yoga-doing, absolutely stunning bride :) and she found her Prince Charming in Steve. He is a Fireman with a fantastic sense of humor!! It was non-stop laughter during our engagement session and even more during the wedding.. just wait for the photos of the garter!! The love they have together is a joy to watch and I was so blessed to be a part of this wedding! Ashley & Steve tied the knot at the Santa Clara Catholic Church which, I mean pleeeease, is the most GORGEOUS church that I have ever been in. Hands down. It literally took my breath away when I walked in! We then moved the party to Spanish Hills Country Club to continue the festivities.

Breakfast Inspired Wedding Photoshoot: Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

Becca April 20, 2012

Do you love to brunch?

Well, we think that the dinner wedding is a bit over done, and we've all seen our fair share of luncheon weddings! But what about a sunrise hike, followed by some early morning nuptials? We think that a cereal bar, some espresso shots, and a waffle cake are just different enough to make you consider this early morning alternative! The amazing vendors involved in this shoot are listed after the photos :)

Photography: Becca Rillo Photography

Event Design: Marisa Nicole Weddings & Events

Floral Design: Enchanted Garden Floral Design

Invitations: Prim & Pixie

Equipment Rentals: The Vintage Table Co. & A1 Event Rentals

Hair & Makeup: Elegance by Alex & Betsy diFrancesca Bridal Hair

Other: Painted Joy

Location: Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

On a more personal note: The Condo

Becca March 28, 2012

I always wanted to do a series of blog posts on my condo. Little did I know, I'd be doing it all in one chunk and trying to sell it at the same time :) I took the time to clean and photograph my adorable little abode so we'd have awesome pictures for people to look at online! We've lived here for almost 3 years, can you believe it?!? It blows my mind. When I think about actually leaving this place, I get sad. It's the best place ever.. but it's time to move out and up to something a little bigger. With Kyle's new job taking up so much of his time, I want him to be able to have his own office so he can work from home more often. As you'll see in the pictures, we currently share an office (this is a new development.. his desk used to be in our bedroom.). But what I've learned about Kyle, and this is new to me after living with him for nearly 3 years, is that he's a Self-Talker. I'll be sitting at my desk trying to edit photos or design an album and out of nowhere I hear him say, "Yeah, I don't think I need to include that module after all. Perfect."

....

Not only does that break my concentration, but it's so weird. I'm the silent worker bee. In fact, I'm just quiet all the time! Even when I'm watching a movie and something funny happens, I think to myself, "Ha! That was funny!" but I rarely laugh out loud. I only laugh at Tosh.0 on occasion. The most recent episode where he shows the video of the girl blowing out her birthday candles, and then her friend smashes her face in the cake and knocks her unconscious?! OMG. I cried I was laughing so hard!

But I digress..

So anyway, my adorable little place is going on the market tonight, but I thought I would share some little tidbits that make it so special. Also, I've been getting a lot of questions about the decor.. so I'll explain some of my purchases/finds here as well:

I can't tell you how many times I've said, "E as in Elephant" when telling people where I live! Haha So as you open the front door, the kitchen is to your left and the dining/living room is straight ahead.

As you walk into our condo, you notice an eclectic assortment of odds and ends.. as well as awesome vaulted ceilings. What we can't say on the official MLS listing is that to the left of the ceiling fan, above the kitchen, Kyle has created the most awesome storage area ever. He put in floors, drywall, lighting, and a fan that vents to the roof. It adds an extra 180 sq.ft of space but because it was a DIY job, we can't list it as a feature. But I can put it on my blog!

What I love about this place is how social it is. The kitchen is open to the dining room, which is open to the living room! Some of the best parties have been had here :) The black wall decal is just a sticker from Etsy, the birdcage is an eBay find, and the tiered side-table was found on the side of the road!

You are seeing that correctly, that is an orange wall. We originally painted it brown, but what fun is that? The Coffee Table is actually a reclaimed old breakfast table from the 1930s. Kyle refinished it with a darker stain and added little legs to it. And the awesome Throne Chair is a Craigslist find! The clock is from Bed, Bath & Beyond online, and I took down the hands to change the battery and then forgot to put it back up.. now I can't find it.. Oh well!

Ahhh the Master Bedroom. We literally JUST finished this room last month. We painted the walls grey (that would be "Porpoise" by Behr in eggshell finish), got brand new black hardwood floors, and found the white furniture at IKEA. The embroidered pillows and duvet cover are also from IKEA. The curtains were a custom, handmade job with 2 different colors of linen and the terrariums are just apothecary jars from Michael's.

This room is amazing. Especially with that flat-screen... mmm...

P.s. The super delicious white cat in the window is not for sale.

The mirrored closet doors are such a nice touch!

Yup, that is a dragon holding our toilet paper. I'm going to shame him for a second (thank goodness he doesn't read my blog) but Kyle used to play Dungeons & Dragons in highschool and he was actually the Dungeon Master. Now, I didn't know what that meant until he told me, but apparently that's the guy that's in charge of the story... it's a big deal. So now my mom and I mock him by buying him dragon things.. but he loves it. There's also a matching dragon hand towel holder that didn't make it into the pictures.

Guest bathroom has the washer and dryer in it! So nice :) The color of the bathroom is called "Spearmint Stick" by Behr in Semi-Gloss.

The kitchen has tons of storage space and really nice recessed lighting! I painted it "Butter Yellow' by Valspar in Semi-Gloss.

And this is the second bedroom which has been turned into a hair salon/office. I'm sure most of your don't know that I used to be a hairstylist (..and a barista, and a bartender.. we all start somewhere, right?) but I've kept up with the hairstyling because it's fun and easy. The desk by the windows is Kyle's, and mine is the dark one! The large built-it was brand new when we moved in as well as the wooden blinds (there are matching ones for every window in the house). The blue is the best color blue in the world, it's called "Dusty Spruce" by Valspar in Eggshell.

And this is the view from our patio! Yeah, you see some parking lot.. but look at those mountains :) The picture is taken facing west so we get some phenomenal sunsets. So that's pretty much it.. the Grand Tour :) The condo will get listed on the MLS database tonight, so if you or any of your friends are looking for an awesome condo to buy in Santa Clarita.. I know a girl who's selling one. Here are some of the details of the place!

-We live on Apple Street off of Lyons Avenue in Newhall, CA -The HOA is $286 and includes a pool, gated community and beautiful oak & apple trees on the property. -It's 1,159 sq ft. -2 Bed/2 Bath (laundry in guest bath) -1 storage unit in the garage -1 inside parking spot/1 carport spot

It's just 2 miles away from the freeway, less than a mile away from Ralphs and the best Chinese food in the valley.. China Palace.

ALSO, you are ridiculously close to the best little coffee house ever.. conveniently named, The Coffee House. Their chai tea latte makes me want to curl up with a book and a cat next to a fireplace. It's totally a Santa Clarita gem that you just have to experience!

If you're interested in it, or want more details, you can e-mail me at becca@beccarillo.com or if you want to contact my realtor instead, you can talk to Laura Smith with Dilbeck.

For the official listing, click here!

Newhall Wedding: Marc & Robyn

Becca January 11, 2012

Back in August, I was lucky enough to photograph Marc & Robyn's beautiful wedding. I loved the sweet simplicity of the entire event and the calm, casual energy that Robyn had all day. There's something to be said for a bride who doesn't freak out on the day of her wedding and thank goodness that Robyn was as cool as a cucumber. The ceremony was quick and lovely. They hiked up to some ruins in a field and all of the guests stood below them as they exchanged vows. They were combining their families so Robyn's four children and Marc's two children were the bridal party! The whole affair was very sweet :) There were a lot of fun "firsts" for me at this wedding.. Let's start with #1:

#1: I've never photographed a family friend before. It's really fun to know someone a little better than just a Starbucks date! I was able to photograph her in a way that I might not have just because I knew a little more about her..

#2: I've never photographed a second marriage before. It was such a touching moment when Robyn's daughter helped her put her necklace on and I'm pretty sure there wasn't one dry eye in that room.

Robyn just couldn't stop crying and I had turned around to leave to give them a couple of minutes alone. But I glanced back for one second and stole this beautiful moment of Marc wiping away her tears.. ahh! So sweet!

Robyn and her kids were so cute! That has got to be the best feeling in the world as a mom..

#3: I've never been in a situation where someone lost the ring! Somebody.. not naming names.. was twirling his ring-bearer pillow like it was an Olympic sport and all of the sudden.. Marc's ring was missing. Everyone dropped to their knees (except me, I guess..) and scoured the dry grass looking for it. The pastor was looking, even my lovely assistant, Cherie, lent a helping hand! But before long, the ring was found! And all was as it should be. Marc tied that darn ring onto that pillow so tightly that he couldn't get it off during the ceremony..you'll see)

(Notice Marc's hand? The string from the pillow was still attached :) he just ripped it right off!)

#4: I've never photographed another photographer before! Let me just say that, as a wedding photographer, it's the ultimate complement to have a fellow wedding photographer ask you to shoot their wedding. You can see Robyn's work here!

Tell your love story without ever having to say a word.

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

Pasadena City Hall Engagement: Aaron & Lily

Becca January 10, 2012

Aaron & Lily were so much fun to photograph! Even though they were probably sick of me dragging them all over City Hall for their photos, they still smiled and at least pretended that they had a good time :) haha This world-travelling duo has so much ahead of them and I can't wait to see where life takes them after they get married! They're tying the knot this March!

Tell your love story without ever having to say a word.

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

Santa Clarita Engagement: Josh & Amy

Becca January 3, 2012

What can I say about Josh and Amy? Honestly, two of the sweetest people I've ever met. They are so deeply in love with each other and share the same passions (except for the whole vegetarian/carnivore thing.. haha). I had the honor of photographing their wedding in November, but I'm so behind with blogging that I'm just now sharing their engagement story :) Amy found the beautiful rolling grass and it just worked out beautifully! I couldn't have been happier with this shoot!

Tell your love story without ever having to say a word.

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

SoCal Inspired Photoshoot | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca December 27, 2011

For the SoCal bride who dreams of a white wedding, this one's for you!

Couples whose weddings occur around the holidays often feel limited in their décor and design options to colors such as forest green and burgundy, and things that shine, jingle or have evergreen foliage. Our goal was to set these love-birds free into the world of styling options available to them, giving a nod to the holiday season, but setting their wedding apart. We hoped to inspire couples to think outside the box (a wrapped Christmas present of course!) and give a SoCal style holiday wedding a try. Through this shoot, we hoped to create a wedding for a couple who wants to embrace all the goodness and warmth this season has to offer but is unique, modern, fresh and fun!

Having a January wedding? Just take out the Christmas presents and voila! You're left with the stunning, winter-wonderland wedding that you've always dreamed of..

The exact gown that our lovely bride is modeling is available for purchase here!

Planning & Design/Styling: Marisa Nicole Weddings & Events / Styling Support: Tasteful Tatters / Graphic Design & Printed Materials: LLY Designs / Cake & Assorted Goodies: The Butter End Cakery / Floral Design: Enchanted Garden Floral Design / Vintage Plates & Flatware: The Vintage Table Co. / Rentals: A1 Event Rentals / Wedding Dress: The Gown Swap / Make-up Artistry: Elegance by Alex / Venue: The Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve

Tell your love story without ever having to say a word.

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

What a Fabulous Year! | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca December 22, 2011

I can't believe how quickly 2011 is coming to an end. It truly flew by and I am so thankful to all of my brides who have made it a year to remember! Here's a little recap of some amazing moments I was so honored to capture:

Ryan & Destiny in Palm Desert | January

Great Gatsby Styled Shoot | February

Princess & the Pea Styled Shoot | March

Desert Styled Shoot | April

Beach without the Beach Styled Shoot | April

Kott Motorcycle Bridal Shoot | April

Juan & Sandy at the Beach | April

Nick & Bre in Santa Clarita | June

Arnold & Tricia at The Hyatt Valencia | June

Emmanuel & Pamela in Beverly Hills | July

Jeff & Holly's Photoshoot at Dodger Stadium | July

Caleb & Monica in Malibu | July

French Styled Shoot at Le Chene in Santa Clarita | July

Adam & Haley at Port Hueneme | August

Paper Styled Shoot in San Diego | August

Marc & Robyn in Newhall | August

Garry & Jackie at South Coast Botanical Gardens | September

Zac & Jessie at McCormick Home Ranch | October

Ryan & Alexandra in Palos Verdes Estates | October

And then, one of the highlights of the year...

I was able to capture my sweet friends, Mitch & Ariana, at Lombardi's Ranch when he popped the question!

Can't wait for 2013!

Carl & Erika at the Valencia County Club | November

Ben & Ido at the La Canada Flintridge Country Club | November

And my final wedding of 2011..

Josh & Amy at Grace Baptist Church | November

To all of my 2011 Brides, thank you for making this year unforgettable! You consistently surprised me with your unique weddings and dazzled me with your beauty. I am so blessed and honored that you all chose me to be there for the biggest day of your lives and I will always remember you. Call me when you decide to have babies ;)

...and to my 2012 Brides.. Nicole, Jennifer, Lily, Amber, Erica, Courtney, Brianna, Melissa, Jessica, Ashley, and Shauna.. Get ready ladies, 2012 is going to be a year to remember!

McCormick Home Ranch Wedding: Zac & Jessie

Becca November 7, 2011

These two country-lovers tied the knot last October! They are both so sweet and this wedding was full of fun, beautiful details that were so fun to photograph. I especially loved the pie bar :) love love love!

Lukas & Susannah | French Inspired Shoot on Style Me Pretty | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca November 1, 2011

Oh my goodness! This was one of the most beautiful, inspiring photo shoots that I've even been a part of. I'm so thankful to my models for the day, Lukas and Suzy (who are totally amazing photographers, too!) because they filled in for me 2 days before the shoot when my original models dropped out. Well... OBVIOUSLY I couldn't be happier about the last minutes switch up because they were just perfect. **love you guys**

See what Archive Vintage Rentals had to say about the shoot!

See more of our feature on Style Me Pretty!

Photography: Becca Rillo Photography / Cinematography: Hyperburn Photography / Flowers: Primary Petals / Hair: Anna Quinn Design / Make-up:Beautiful Faces by Denise / Event Design: A Regal Affair / Rentals: Archive Vintage Rentals / Additional Rentals: Tasteful Treasures / Reception Location: Le Chene French Restaurant / Invitations + Jewelry: Prim & Pixie / Wedding Cake: CAKEgoodness / Wedding Dress: Renee Strauss / Models: Lukas + Suzy VanDyke of Lukas VanDyke Fine Art Photography

Tell your love story without ever having to say a word.

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

Josh & Amber | Engaged | Santa Clarita, California | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca November 1, 2011

I was on such a roll with blogging.. such a roll. And then the unthinkable happened: I filled up my hard-drive. My 2 TERABYTE hard-drive! My first one ever, it was definitely a milestone. However, it totally through a monkey wrench into my blogging because I didn't have enough space to create new pictures! AND since I'm cheap..frugal, I suppose.. I chose the Super Saver Shipping option from Amazon and it took 2+ weeks to get my new one delivered! I learned my lesson and I'm back in my groove, I promise. Here we go! The long-awaited Part Two of Josh & Amber's Engagement Session!

Josh & Amber | Engaged | Malibu, California | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca October 4, 2011

My world is so small, it really is. I met Josh at a Charity Event this past summer where we were both exhibitors (Josh is also a wedding photographer!). We ended up striking up a conversation at the event and really hit it off. He was talking about his girlfriend, Amber and how they were probably going to get engaged soonish. After a few minutes he introduced me to his then girlfriend, Amber! Turns out, Amber and I were friends when we were 13 and were going to the same church. She is now a fabulous harpist for weddings and special events! How crazy is it that we ended up in the same industry?! Like I said, small world. We all talked about wedding photography for a bit and then went our separate ways for the event. I was so thrilled when I got the e-mail from them saying that they were engaged and wanted me to photograph their wedding! It's seriously the BIGGEST compliment in the world when another wedding photographer asks you to shoot their wedding. I can't wait for their wedding in March! We did a 2-part engagement session so you'll have to wait until next week for the second installment. Here is part one!

Jeff & Holly | Dodger Stadium Wedding | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca September 27, 2011

Holly is such a sweet, all-around perfect person. She is one of the most talented photographers I know and she is madly in love with Jeff! Now, I don't know too much about Jeff.. (he's more on the shy side) but I know that he loves Holly like you would not believe! Take that kind of unconditional love, throw in a ridiculous passion for the Dodgers, sprinkle in some fabulous vendors, Vera Wang and oh.. I don't know.. DODGER STADIUM?! The outcome is nothing short of amazing.

A little behind-the-scenes action with Alex!

Coordination: Sterling Engagements

Florals: Enchanted Garden

Cookies: Fantasy Frostings

Dress: Lili Bridals

Makeup: Jen Fregozo

Suit: Proper Suit

Videography: New Classic Films

Jewelry: Prim & Pixie

Tell your love story without ever having to say a word.

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

Melody | Birth Photography | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca September 21, 2011

I was honored to be at Melody's birth. Claire is a dear friend of mine and was brave enough to have me photographing the most painful and vulnerable moment of her life. I witnessed her sweet daughter coming into the world and was able to capture the look on both Claire and Ben's faces as they became parents. It touched my heart in such a special way, and Claire will tell you that I was one of the people tearing up (fine...crying, I was crying) the most right after Melody was born!

Take a look for yourself!

: : BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY : :

Stunning. Emotional. Personal. Beautiful. I’d like to tell your story, as it happens, in a completely non-intrusive way. I only work with available light so that means no harsh flash to distract mom or the newborn. I love feeling just how powerful the birth of a human being I’ve never met can be, and I promise you will too.

If you are pregnant or if you know anyone who might be interested in having this incredible, once in a lifetime moment captured by a professional.. please e-mail me: becca@beccarillo.com

Tell your love story without ever having to say a word.

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

New Blog Schedule! + Desert Styled Shoot | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca September 19, 2011

We've all known it for a while, but it's official: I'm a horrible blogger! But that's okay because that's all about to change. I'm going to be blogging religiously at least twice a week... hopefully 3! Tuesdays will be an engagement session/styled shoot/or other session.. and wednesdays will be showcasing some of the beautiful weddings I've had the opportunity to photograph over the summer. And then if I'm feeling fancy, Fridays will be little bits of my home or maybe a little spotlight on Milo. It's ambitious, I know, but I really think that I can stay true to this path! So without further adieu, a styled shoot!

Holly Steen of Cakes & Kisses was so sweet in letting me photograph her beautiful styled shoot this past April. I absolutely diiiiie over the centerpieces and I can't believe how stunning they look when the light shines through them! The super talented group of girls who worked on this shoot are listed at the bottom of this post and I'm so thankful to call them all friends!

xoxo

Lead Photography by Cakes and Kisses

Flowers by Enchanted Garden Floral Design Cake and Desserts by Cake Goodness Paper goods by Prim and Pixie Rentals from A-1 Rentals and Event Services Hair and Makeup by IMS Studio Jonelle Kelly

Los Angeles Wedding Photographer, Becca Rillo lets you tell your love story without ever having to say a word.

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

Andrew & Sierra | Love | Malibu, California | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca June 27, 2011

I had so much fun tromping all over the beach with Andrew and Sierra earlier this month! Surprisingly enough, even though I live in Southern California, I rarely get asked to do a beach shoot. So needless to say, I didn't have much experience with the ocean.. So I asked Andrew if they might be interested in being my guinea pigs for a beach adventure! I'm so glad they were up for it because I think we got some great shots and I definitely got the practice I needed. They are the perfect beach couple! Side note: I've known Andrew since he was like, 6 months old.. that's right, we go way back ;)

Tell your love story without ever having to say a word.

Becca Rillo Photography | 661.310.6909 | becca@beccarillo.com

Chris & Kimberly | Love | Stuck in the Mud, California | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer Becca Rillo

Becca May 7, 2011

Have you ever been stuck in the mud? I have. Once, in fact.. back in February. Let me tell you about it! Holly Steen of Cakes & Kisses Photography came up with the great idea to shoot in the rain. I tend to shy away from things that I'm not comfortable with (like precipitation) but I figured, "Why not?". I like a challenge! I brought Nathan and Sarah, and Holly was also going to bring a couple to play with. Unfortunately, we only had the chance to shoot with Holly's couple, but I'll get to that part. They were great, though.. I had so much fun working with Chris Easter, co-founder of The Man Registry, and his beautiful wife, Kimberly! Such a cute couple and I'm so happy to have met them. Anyways! We all met up in a parking lot to lay out a game plan and then headed out. I had Holly, Chris, and Kimberly in my car and then Nathan and Sarah were following us. We didn't really know where we were going, we just would know the spot when we saw it. We drove quite a ways down a single lane road and then we passed this beautiful clearing.. here's where it gets interesting.. I made a u-turn and turned a little wider than I should have. On a normal day, it totally wouldn't have been a problem... well, this was no normal day. Rain had been falling for a few days and had turned the mud riiiiiight off the road into really sticky clay... So when I turned off the road, I sunk right in. Oh yeah. We were stuck.. unbelievably stuck.

Nathan and Sarah went for help (because there was no reception) while Holly and I started shooting. We figured we were there anyway, so why waste the light?! Turns out that Nathan had finally gotten reception a few miles down the road, had pulled over to call for help, turned off his car, and then when he went to start his car again.. you guessed it, his battery was dead. We didn't know this at the time so we assumed help was coming! Haha

So right towards the end of our session, when it looked like we'd be walking home in the dark, on a dirt road.. a good samaritan came along! Apparently, he usually takes the freeway home, but for some reason he was compelled to take the road instead. He got down on his hands and knees in the mud to hook up my car to his hooky-thing on the front of his truck and pulled me out. I was so stuck it took about 10 minutes to finally pull me out!! I am so thankful for him, and if he's reading this or you know him.. seriously have him call me. Right when I got pulled out of the mud, Nathan pulled up after calling his friend for a jump, to tell us that he didn't get help! Whew! What a day!

So here we go: My first (and last) photoshoot in the rain/mud.